Create Your Own Anthropologie Primrose Mirror Tutorial 

I cannot be the only one obsessed with all things Anthropologie home decor, but also yikes to most of the price tags. Today I’m going to show you how to create possibly the most iconic piece Anthropologie has ever designed: The Anthropologie Primrose Mirror. And honestly, it’s a pretty simple DIY. So roll up your sleeves, grab your DIY tools, and let’s make your own Anthropologie Primrose Mirror. 

I could not stop daydreaming about Anthropologie’s Primrose mirror. It’s whimsy, vintage charm – it is just something magical. Am I right? I knew it would look so cute leaning against my bedroom wall or in my baby’s nursery, but my wallet refused to agree (rude). Refusing to let the price tag squash my dreams, I was on a mission to replicate it. And spoiler alert: I did it & I’m obsessed.

The best part about this DIY is you can totally upcycle an old bathroom vanity mirror or buy one from a hardware store for pretty cheap. I’ve also found a ton of simple rectangular mirrors on Facebook Marketplace that have worked perfectly! Here’s how you can DIY your own:

How to Flip a Mirror into a DIY Anthropologie Primrose Mirror

1. Take your mirror to get cut

Here’s my big secret. You ready? Take your mirror to a glass shop or auto body shop to get it cut! They have the equipment to do it and my glass shop only charges me $10 a mirror (however, other people have told me they were charged $60+ so call around! You’ll want them to cut the mirror to the same shape as the Primrose mirror. I showed my glass shop a picture of the mirror and they were able to figure it out. 

2. measure the bottom length of the mirror

Once you get the mirror back, you’ll measure the bottom length of the mirror and use a miter saw to cut your yard stick or trim to match. My mirrors are typically 3 feet wide, so a yardstick works great and requires zero cutting. Once it’s cut to length, you’ll use brown spray paint and spray both sides of the trim. It’s important to spray both sides because the back of the trim will reflect in the mirror! I learned this the hard way. You’ll also want to spray your appliques while you’re at it so they’re ready by step 5!

3. Attach your trim

Attach your trim (yardstick or otherwise!) to the bottom of your mirror. This is easiest with E6000 glue or Loctite glue, and then clamp it to your mirror to hold it secure while it dries.

4. Add car edge guard

Grab your car edge guard. This is usually used to line a car door, but it’s bendable and perfect for this project! Put a small bead of E6000 along the edge of the mirror, then slip the edge guard on all the way from the bottom of the mirror, around to the top and then around to the other side. If you get any glue on the mirror, no worries! Once it dries it peels off like rubber. 

5. Tape off around the mirror

Tape off around the mirror as close to the edge guard as you can get. This will help to protect the mirror while you dust the Rub N Buff on. 

6. Add pearls

To create the dotted detailing in the Anthropologie mirror, I used some self-adhesive pearls I found on Amazon and they worked so well. I would definitely use E6000 to secure these because the adhesive that comes on them isn’t very strong. 

7. Add Gold Touch

Now for the fun part! Grab your Rub n’ Buff and a large round makeup brush add that in small circular motions around your mirror’s edge banding and on all your appliques (detached from your mirror). If you haven’t used Rub N Buff before, practice on a piece of paper first. It looks like paint, but isn’t! It’s more of a powered wax? I don’t know. Just trust me on this. You can add as much or as little as you’d like, depending on how you want your mirror to look. Less gold will leave more brown showing and give it more of an antique look, while more gold will make it brighter and shinier. You can also use gold paint, but I love how the Rub n’ Buff looks when finished. 

8. place your appliques on your mirror

Finally, place your appliques on your mirror and mark where they go on your edge banding. When you have that marked, use E6000 glue and clamp them in place. I would allow this to set over night.

& TA-DA! Your mirror is done! If you plan to hang this mirror, you will want to get ¾-inch plywood and use liquid nails to attach it to the back and then use screws and wire to create a hanging mechanism. I’ve never tried this, but people have told me it works well! 

What Paint Colors Work Best For Achieving The Anthropologie Look?

You will want to go with rich browns and golds for a classic Anthropologie look, but the mirror is your project at the end of the day! If you love silver, create a beautiful silver version. If you want a solid gold look, paint it with a more solid look, and you’re ready to go. The best part about DIY is that you can make it your own and exactly what you love! 

How Do You Keep Paint Off Of The Mirror Surface?

Keeping paint off the mirror surface while painting a mirror can be a bit tricky, but here are some tips to help you achieve a clean and paint-free mirror:

• Use Masking Tape or Painter’s Tape around the edges
• Cover the entire mirror with a plastic sheet or newspaper, exposing only the frame.
• Apply a thin layer of Vaseline along the mirror’s edges where you don’t want the paint to stick.

If you accidentally get paint on the mirror, you can use a paint removal solution or a razor blade scraper to remove the unwanted paint carefully. Be cautious not to scratch the mirror surface while doing so. Remember to take your time and work carefully when painting near a mirror to achieve the best results without damaging the reflective surface.

This mirror has been one of my favorite DIY projects and I’ve made them over and over again! I cannot wait for you to create yours and make it your own. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below! Happy creating!